Medical device with procedure improvement features
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A medical device for treating tissue within a lung, comprising:
- an elongate shaft;
an elongate member slidably located external to the elongate shaft such that the elongate shaft and elongate member are configured to pass along an access path defined by a bronchi of the lung, wherein the elongate shaft is substantially less flexible than the elongate member;
an energy transfer element located at a distal end of the elongate shaft; and
wherein when the elongate shaft and the energy transfer element extend distally beyond a distal end of the elongate member, the elongate shaft is configured to flex relative to the elongate member and form an inclined angle with respect to the elongate member such that the energy transfer element contacts a wall of the cavity or passageway substantially uniformly when the access path is misaligned relative to the cavity or passageway.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This relates to methods and devices for achieving contact between the wall of a cavity or passageway and a medical device under conditions in which an access path and the subject anatomy are not aligned.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A medical device for treating tissue within a lung, comprising:
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an elongate shaft; an elongate member slidably located external to the elongate shaft such that the elongate shaft and elongate member are configured to pass along an access path defined by a bronchi of the lung, wherein the elongate shaft is substantially less flexible than the elongate member; an energy transfer element located at a distal end of the elongate shaft; and wherein when the elongate shaft and the energy transfer element extend distally beyond a distal end of the elongate member, the elongate shaft is configured to flex relative to the elongate member and form an inclined angle with respect to the elongate member such that the energy transfer element contacts a wall of the cavity or passageway substantially uniformly when the access path is misaligned relative to the cavity or passageway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for treating a cavity or passageway within a body, the method comprising:
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advancing a treatment device including an elongate portion, a distal treatment portion and a junction therebetween into the cavity or passage way via an access path, the junction articulating to alter the orientation of the treatment portion relative to the elongate portion, so that when misalignment of the access path and the cavity or passage occur that the treatment portion is in substantially uniform contact with a wall of the cavity or passageway, wherein the cavity or passageway is within a lung, and the access path is along the bronchi. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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Specification